June 7, 1997 - Incentive Physical Training
Note: occasionally during boot camp, I was unable to write a journal entry every day. When that happens, I will write the next entry and repeat it until we get to the actual, original date it was written. For example, today's post was actually written on June 8.
Incentive Physical Training was exactly what it sounds like: it was a way to correct and/or punish recruits. This was either done outside in a sand pit or inside, in the section of the squad bay between the DI hut and the head (also called the quarterdeck for that area on a ship; a shout out to our naval heritage). There were many, many pits on Parris Island, and we came to know many of them intimately.
A typical "pit-call" or "quarterdecking" usually began with some infraction on the part of the recruit. It could be anything from scratching while at the position of attention, not shaving, talking, or moving too slowly, to things like...nothing. Sometimes, you went to the pit for no expressed reason.
I remember at least two occasions when one of the DIs (probably Sgt. M______, more on him in a later post), came out of the DI hut and said, "OK, who owes me?" A couple of dutiful recruits who'd been corrected earlier by him (when there had not been time to go to the pit) head up to him, ready to pay the piper. Evidently, though, there weren't enough, because he walked over to me and said, "I know you owe me, Bailey." I couldn't argue with him, so I headed to the quarterdeck as well, paying off a debt I didn't owe.
Now, you may be wondering what actually happened in IPT. I thought you'd never ask.
After being told to go to the pit or quarterdeck, you first (obviously) go there. Once there, you remove your camo blouse (The jacket/shirt. I didn't name it). If on the quarterdeck, you would also grab a thin sleeping mat, if there were any left. Then you stand at the position of attention and wait. Sometimes, the Drill Instructor takes some time to yell at you and remind you of the reason for your presence here. Usually, though, he just starts:
DI: Run.
Recruits: Run, Aye sir! (begin running in place)
DI: Push.
Recruits: Push, Aye sir! (drop as quickly as possible and begin doing push-ups)
DI: Run.
Recruits: Run, Aye sir! (get back up, again as quickly as possible, and run in place)
DI: Mountain Climb
Recruits: Mountain climb, Aye sir! (drop to the floor, begin mountain climbers)
(Note: typically, this all takes place within the span of about 10 seconds. That's not an exaggeration.)
There were usually other exercises (leg lifts, flutter kicks, side-straddle hops which are jumping jacks to the rest of the world, hello Dolly's) and they would all be called out in rapid succession. Sometimes, the DI would get creative with the exercises. I was once told to "watch TV." He explained that I was to do a plank on my toes and elbows, resting my chin on my hands. Once I was in this position, I was told to change the channel: put one arm out in front of me and pretend to use a remote control. It was at about this time that I came to the conclusion that IPT is as much about punishing us as it is about the DIs entertaining themselves.
The longest a recruit was allowed to undergo IPT was 20 minutes, I believe. Also, DIs could only put 5 recruits on the pit (or quarterdeck) at a time. Only the SDI could put the whole platoon in the pit, which ours did plenty.
My favorite IPT story, unfortunately didn't actually happen to my platoon, but it's too good not to share. There was a recruit doing mountain climbers for a very, very long time; so long that the Drill Instructor had walked away and most likely even forgotten about the recruit. At some point, the recruit stopped, stood up, and snapped to the position of attention. At this point, the Drill Instructor remembered him and ran over to him, yelling.
DI: What the hell is wrong with you recruit?!? Who told you to stop?
Recruit: Sir, this recruit reached the top of the mountain, sir!
The entire platoon, and even the Drill Instructors roared with laughter for a good 30 seconds.
DI: Good. Then get back on the ground and mountain climb back down.
970608 - On 970605 we were put into our real squad bay w/ our real DIs. They yelled a lot but also taught us a lot. On 970606 we woke up at 0500 and began training. We learned drill + how to clean the squad bay. On 970607 we did more of the same. On 970608, today (Sunday), we went to Chapel after waking up at 0600. The Chapel was so amazing that I was moved to tears several times. The weather (thank God) has been in the high 60s to low 70s and not really humid. I'm enjoying it now as I'm sure it won't last.Many years before I went to boot camp, Drill Instructors had a simple way for letting recruits know they were doing something wrong: they would hit them. At some point, this was banned. Instead, they had to come up with a different, more creative method. Thus, the invention of "Incentive Physical Training" (IPT). That name sounds so innocent, doesn't it? Well, i can assure you, it is anything but. In fact, there were times in boot camp that I was doing some lovely IPT and longed for the days when the DIs could just hit me and get it over with.
Incentive Physical Training was exactly what it sounds like: it was a way to correct and/or punish recruits. This was either done outside in a sand pit or inside, in the section of the squad bay between the DI hut and the head (also called the quarterdeck for that area on a ship; a shout out to our naval heritage). There were many, many pits on Parris Island, and we came to know many of them intimately.
A typical "pit-call" or "quarterdecking" usually began with some infraction on the part of the recruit. It could be anything from scratching while at the position of attention, not shaving, talking, or moving too slowly, to things like...nothing. Sometimes, you went to the pit for no expressed reason.
I remember at least two occasions when one of the DIs (probably Sgt. M______, more on him in a later post), came out of the DI hut and said, "OK, who owes me?" A couple of dutiful recruits who'd been corrected earlier by him (when there had not been time to go to the pit) head up to him, ready to pay the piper. Evidently, though, there weren't enough, because he walked over to me and said, "I know you owe me, Bailey." I couldn't argue with him, so I headed to the quarterdeck as well, paying off a debt I didn't owe.
Now, you may be wondering what actually happened in IPT. I thought you'd never ask.
After being told to go to the pit or quarterdeck, you first (obviously) go there. Once there, you remove your camo blouse (The jacket/shirt. I didn't name it). If on the quarterdeck, you would also grab a thin sleeping mat, if there were any left. Then you stand at the position of attention and wait. Sometimes, the Drill Instructor takes some time to yell at you and remind you of the reason for your presence here. Usually, though, he just starts:
DI: Run.
Recruits: Run, Aye sir! (begin running in place)
DI: Push.
Recruits: Push, Aye sir! (drop as quickly as possible and begin doing push-ups)
DI: Run.
Recruits: Run, Aye sir! (get back up, again as quickly as possible, and run in place)
DI: Mountain Climb
Recruits: Mountain climb, Aye sir! (drop to the floor, begin mountain climbers)
(Note: typically, this all takes place within the span of about 10 seconds. That's not an exaggeration.)
There were usually other exercises (leg lifts, flutter kicks, side-straddle hops which are jumping jacks to the rest of the world, hello Dolly's) and they would all be called out in rapid succession. Sometimes, the DI would get creative with the exercises. I was once told to "watch TV." He explained that I was to do a plank on my toes and elbows, resting my chin on my hands. Once I was in this position, I was told to change the channel: put one arm out in front of me and pretend to use a remote control. It was at about this time that I came to the conclusion that IPT is as much about punishing us as it is about the DIs entertaining themselves.
The longest a recruit was allowed to undergo IPT was 20 minutes, I believe. Also, DIs could only put 5 recruits on the pit (or quarterdeck) at a time. Only the SDI could put the whole platoon in the pit, which ours did plenty.
My favorite IPT story, unfortunately didn't actually happen to my platoon, but it's too good not to share. There was a recruit doing mountain climbers for a very, very long time; so long that the Drill Instructor had walked away and most likely even forgotten about the recruit. At some point, the recruit stopped, stood up, and snapped to the position of attention. At this point, the Drill Instructor remembered him and ran over to him, yelling.
DI: What the hell is wrong with you recruit?!? Who told you to stop?
Recruit: Sir, this recruit reached the top of the mountain, sir!
The entire platoon, and even the Drill Instructors roared with laughter for a good 30 seconds.
DI: Good. Then get back on the ground and mountain climb back down.
Comments
Post a Comment